The human heart is naturally hostile towards God. We naturally rage and wage war with our Creator. We naturally hate the King of the Universe, doing everything in our power to spite Him and mock Him. Our hearts are wicked, darkened with every evil desire that tickles our fancy. Every external action reflects the sin that festers within, as we revel and rejoice in all that is evil, twisted and perverted. We worship creation as we scoff at the Creator. We chase after greed, immorality, lust, and on and on.
We are headed straight down the road of Destruction, laughing with every step as we freely indulge in sin. We are headed for Damnation, and we love it. This is our joy and delight. We love our sin and wickedness, and hate the One who challenges and opposes us. This is our freedom: slavery to sin. Its wages: Death. We love and welcome the poison that brings eternal destruction. This is our natural state before God. We are full of wrath. We are raging. We are depraved. We are lost. We are dead.
Two beautiful words change this reality. Two words bring so much hope and light. Without these two words, this would be the end of the story.
But God.
The mighty Hand of indestructible grace and irresistible mercy reached down and plucked us out of our decaying state. The Eyes of Eternal Love were set on us. The Breathe of Life entered into our dead bodies and brought us to everlasting life.
But God means that God Himself, the One whom we have offended, mocked, slandered, raged against, warred against, hated, and rejected, has chosen to save us from our hell-bound wandering. But God means that God Himself has knelt down to save the lost, to give Living Water and the Bread of Life, without cost. But God means that God Himself has paid our cost, our debt, so that we can enjoy the riches of Christ for all eternity.
The magnitude of such an action is far too heavy for our tiny brains to fully comprehend. The reality of our standing before God, now and then, is huge. We fail to fully appreciate this, yet God still does it.
This is the core of the entire story of the Bible and of all human history. Truly, this is God’s story. “But God” echoes throughout eternity as all things testify to what God has done for dead, depraved, worthless sinners. As the King of the Ages sits on His throne, the praises of these same people rise up for ever and ever, praising the One who has purchased them, redeemed them, and given them life.
As a Christian, your voice joins that same multitude. As Apostle John sees the thousands and thousands of saints praising the Lamb in his vision, you are in that crowd. God has redeemed you. God has purchased you. God has set His loving and merciful eyes on you, and has given you eternal life.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself,
“The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him.”
Lamentations 3
To The Heart 